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Re: Osmacote



>Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 09:37:16 -0800
>From: Paul Nicholson <paul at eisusa_com>
>Subject: Re: Osmacote
>
>Pat Bowerman <bowerman at specent_com> wrote:
>
>>I have no idea about Osmocote. I haven't tried it. I use PMDD myself,
>>and no, it's not really that much fun to try to find the ingredients
>>for, but I believe it is as good as any fertilizer additive ever
>>invented. (When properly dosed) However, I like to keep an open mind,
>>and I would have no problem with trying Osmocote should you and a few
>>others have success with it.
>
>Osmacote is loaded with phosphorous. I'm using it in my substrate, and I've
>had a couple of greenwater outbreaks after the substrate was disturbed when
>uprooting plants. I would not reccomend that anyone add Osmacote directly
to the water. It's value is in the substrate where the P is available only
>to rooted plants.
>
>Paul
>
>>Paul Nicholson			Electronic Imaging Systems, Inc.
>TEL 805 532 1068		5148 Commerce Avenue, Unit F
FAX 805 532 1065		Moorpark, CA, 93021, U.S.A.
>paul at eisusa_com			http://www.eisusa.com

I've seen people on the APD list in the past recommend plant sticks with phosphate.
They reason that as long as the phosphate remains in the gravel, that they
will hopefully avoid the algae problems caused by excessive phosphates in the water 
column.

It seems to me that the plants will absorb the phosphates in the substrate and grow.
Eventually plant leaves will fall off and begin decomposing and release phosphates
now into the water column.  I would also guess that that same thing would
happen if I did _not_ use these plant sticks, but the phosphates would be released
at a lower level.

Perhaps in a low tech approach, with low light levels, one may not get algae
problems using these plant sticks that have phosphorus.  However, I would think that
if one used light levels in the 2 watts/gallon range, that one would have algae
problems. [I guess what I really saying here is as long as you maintain balance
(light levels, plant types, nutrient levels, etc.), as discussed in the APD 
a year or so ago, one could maintain a successful planted tank.]

Just a thought with limited experience in this area (phosphate plant sticks) to back
me up, but hopefully still useful. With the way things have been going on this list,
please be kind with any comments.

---------------
 
Ron Wozniak  Allentown PA, USA
rjwozniak at lucent_com